Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 34
समयाह्वय-संस्कारः — Rite of ‘Samayāhvaya’ and the Preparatory Layout
Maṇḍapa, Vedi, Kuṇḍas, Maṇḍala, Śiva-kumbha
ततस्सुवर्णसंमिश्रं दत्त्वा पुष्पांजलिं प्रभोः । प्राङ्मुखश्चोदङ्मुखो वा प्रणमेद्दंडवत्क्षितो
tatassuvarṇasaṃmiśraṃ dattvā puṣpāṃjaliṃ prabhoḥ | prāṅmukhaścodaṅmukho vā praṇameddaṃḍavatkṣito
പിന്നീട് പ്രഭുവിന് സ്വർണ്ണമിശ്രിത പുഷ്പാഞ്ജലി അർപ്പിച്ച്, കിഴക്കോട്ടോ വടക്കോട്ടോ മുഖം തിരിച്ച്, ഭൂമിയിൽ ദണ്ഡവത് പ്രണാമം ചെയ്യണം।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Significance: Establishes humility (dāsya) and receptivity before Śiva; prostration and offering are framed as preparatory acts that make the paśu fit for the descent of grace (anugraha) in subsequent rites.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that true Shaiva worship culminates in surrender: after offering (puṣpāñjali), the devotee places the ego on the ground through daṇḍavat praṇāma, aligning body and mind to the Lord (Pati) for grace and liberation.
The verse describes a concrete act of saguna-upāsanā—offering flowers to the Lord’s worship-form (commonly the Liṅga) and concluding with full prostration, expressing devotion and reverence to Shiva as the accessible, compassionate Lord.
Offer a puṣpāñjali (flowers, optionally with a precious offering) and perform daṇḍavat praṇāma facing east or north; inwardly, maintain bhakti and remembrance of Shiva—ideally alongside japa of the Pañcākṣarī, “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.”